When the defeated all-heaven army finally returned home, news of the battle's outcome immediately spread to every corner of the all-heaven, resulting in a torrential uproar and panic.
The third god had been bested and stripped of her divinity by the Sacred God, while he was currently undergoing a transformation that would make him even stronger once complete.
When that time came, who in the all-heaven could stop him?
Put bluntly, the day he awakened from his transformation would be the all-heaven's doomsday.
This outcome made the all-heaven fall into a state of panic and order began to crumble throughout the land.
The Omega Shrine did everything in their power to maintain order. Unfortunately for them, the all-heaven was not the only one that had been infected by this despairing atmosphere. Several Omega Shrine Saint experts had lost all hope, and once hope was gone from their hearts, everything could only turn to dust.
Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the other prime sovereigns felt powerless. They could only try their best to keep up a positive attitude as they repeatedly encouraged the other Omega Shrine Saint experts. At the end of the day, the Omega Shrine was the all-heaven's last line of defence and there were some responsibilities they needed to bear.
In the face of cruel reality, however, even the full efforts of the four prime sovereigns only left them increasingly exhausted while the all-heaven descended into chaos.
...
A month had passed when Yaoyao returned to Cangxuan Heaven with Zhou Yuan.
After arriving, she headed straight for the Great Zhou Empire.
In the royal palace, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu could not stop sobbing when they saw the lifeless Zhou Yuan.
They never imagined that their confident and always so lively son would one day end up in such a state.
It was a devastating blow to the two parents.
“Uncle Zhou, auntie Qin...I'm sorry. It's all because of me that Zhou Yuan ended up like this.” Yaoyao tearfully fell to her knees at the sight of the two heartbroken parents.
Still crying uncontrollably, Qin Yu moved forward and pulled Yaoyao up. She stroked the young lady's slightly gaunt face as she choked through her sobs, “It's not your fault, Yaoyao. These things are beyond your control. It is already a huge relief that you were able to return.”
Tears also flowed down Yaoyao's cheeks as she replied, “Don't worry, aunt Qin, I will also bring Zhou Yuan back.”
Qin Yu nodded. Soon after, she helped wipe Yaoyao's tears away and tried to smile. “You can't call me aunt Qin any more. You've already married Zhou Yuan.”
Yaoyao was taken aback and her face could not help but turn bright red. However, she still drummed up her courage and softly said, “Mother.”
Even a lady like Qin Yu could not stop her breath from being taken away as the sorrow in her heart was diluted just a little. She was already envisioning how perfect it would be if Zhou Yuan was here grinning and watching. It was a scene Qin Yu would willingly give her life for in exchange.
“Good girl.” Qin Yu retrieved a gold and jade phoenix hairpin and began to help Yaoyao tie up her hair. The hairpin perfectly complemented her skin, making her look even more beautiful.
“From now on, you are our Zhou Clan's daughter-in-law.” Qin Yu smiled.
Yaoyao reached out and gently grasped the motionless, statue-like Zhou Yuan's hand, before bashfully nodding at Qin Yu.
Qin Yu grew increasingly fond of her new daughter-in-law, her mood improving ever so slightly. However, she understood that she was only forcibly distracting herself.
It was at this juncture that a palace servant suddenly arrived to report that Cang Yuan and the other three prime sovereigns had come to visit.
They had evidently sensed Yaoyao's return and immediately came over to investigate.
Zhou Qing looked towards Yaoyao. Only after seeing her nod did he instruct the servant to bring in their four guests.
When Cang Yuan, Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji walked into the palace hall, their gazes were immediately drawn towards the unmoving, puppet-like Zhou Yuan.
Cang Yuan frowned deeply as he worriedly asked, “Yaoyao, what's going on with Zhou Yuan?”
Yaoyao gave a simple explanation. “His divinity vessel was destroyed, causing his divinity to runamuck in his body and clash with his human side. As a result, he has lost control of his body.”
Prime sovereign Jin Luo enquired, “When will he recover?”
“That will depend on the situation.” Yaoyao shook her head.
“It has been a month since the Sacred God started his transformation...and the all-heaven is currently in chaos. Even the Omega Shrine is on the verge of losing control.” Jin Luo chuckled bitterly.
Yaoyao's expression remained cold and cheerless, evidently not very concerned. Her main goal was Zhou Yuan's recovery and she honestly could care less about the all-heaven.
However, if the Sacred God destroyed the all-heaven, Great Zhou City would also be destroyed. For Zhou Yuan's, Qin Yu's and Zhou Qing's sakes, Yaoyao ultimately said, “The Sacred God's transformation will still take some time. Zhou Yuan also managed to seal him at the final moment, greatly slowing down his transformation.”
The four prime sovereigns nodded. This was some good news at least although it was ultimately only a delaying tactic.
Prime sovereign Chi Ji hesitated for a moment before she asked, “Yaoyao, does the all-heaven really have no hope of facing the Sacred God?”
The hall was silent as gaze after gaze converged on Yaoyao.
Yaoyao was quiet for a brief moment before she ultimately answered, “Who can say what the future holds...if no one can stop the Sacred God, I can only say that the all-heaven's luck has run out.”
The four prime sovereigns could only let out a bitter laugh. After a little more conversation, they voluntarily departed.
Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan subsequently took residence in the royal palace. They visited every place in the city that they had been to before. Yaoyao hoped that these familiar places would be able to rouse Zhou Yuan's human side.
However, Zhou Yuan's eyes were still dull and lifeless after a month had passed.
Yaoyao did not give up. After some discussion with Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, she brought Zhou Yuan out of the Great Zhou Empire, following the path they had left from all those years ago.
It was the route they had taken to Cangxuan Heaven after leaving the Great Zhou Empire.
The boy from back then had been full of spirit and confidence. He had brought along the quiet, aloof girl and the mischievous, crafty little creature on a wonderful and exciting journey.
Now, that boy was no longer young. After countless trials, the unknown practitioner had become the all-heaven's strongest expert. However, he was now a statue without emotion, a wooden doll that allowed itself to be slowly led along by the girl.
Only Tuntun looked exactly the same in its small creature form, rolling about in the front as it scouted the way.
However, just as they exited the Great Zhou Empire's borders, Yaoyao saw three figures to the front, belonging to two women and one man.
It was Su Youwei, Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen.
Su Youwei was wearing a purple dress, her slim figure akin to a blooming orchid gently swaying in the wind.
Wu Yao was dressed in her usual flowing red dress, her presence heroic and piercing like a rose with thorns.
Zhao Mushen wore black and had a complicated expression.
Su Youwei approached, staring at the wooden-doll-like Zhou Yuan as a deep sorrow flowed out in her eyes. Soon after, she softly said, “May I try talking to him?”
Yaoyao did not object. She pulled Zhou Yuan into the shade of a nearby tree and began attentively straightening his messy clothes.
Su Youwei silently watched from the side. She could tell that Yaoyao had been doing her best to take care of Zhou Yuan. Although she was not very good, it was still a drastic transformation compared to her aloof and indifferent demeanor from before.
After settling Zhou Yuan down, Yaoyao voluntarily moved away.
Su Youwei sat down beside Zhou Yuan and started to talk in a soft voice, narrating the encounters and stories they once shared...finally pouring out the feelings she had suppressed in her heart for many years.
The setting sun slowly descended, bathing the land with its dusky red rays.
A lady in purple quietly talked to a man under the shade of a tree, while a beautiful lady in white gazed at the sky in silence nearby. A third lady in red leaned against the trunk of another tree with her arms crossed as unknown emotions flashed in her phoenix eyes.
Even further away, a man in black carefully balanced himself on one leg while allowing the little creature called Tuntun to laze about on his head.
It would have been a beautiful scene, if only the man under the tree could smile dazzlingly like he always had in the past.
When only a corner of the setting sun was left visible on the horizon did Su Youwei finally stand up, helping Zhou Yuan to his feet in the process.
Her eyes were red, filled with self-blame and grief.
Yaoyao walked over and softly said, “Don't worry, I will make him recover.”
“It's been hard on you, big sis Yaoyao.” Su Youwei nodded.
Yaoyao did not say anything else. She pulled Zhou Yuan's hand and began slowly walking away to continue their journey. Tuntun reluctantly jumped off Zhao Mushen's head and dejectedly resumed its scouting work.
Su Youwei watched the man, woman and beast leave. Rivers suddenly poured down her cheeks as the final rays of the sun shone on her face.
Wu Yao appeared beside her and said, “You could have followed them.”
Su Youwei shook her head as she wiped away her tears and softly said, “No, this journey belongs to them. I cannot interfere.
“I only wish to see him recover. Nothing else matters.”
Wu Yao sighed softly. It didn't matter anyway since the all-heaven's final days would soon arrive. When everything was destroyed, there would no longer be these annoying and complicated matters.
After bidding goodbye to Su Youwei, Yaoyao led Zhou Yuan along the still somewhat familiar roads, roads filled with the memories they once shared.
Beautiful scenes were continuously flipped over deep in Yaoyao's mind, each clear as the day she experienced them.
They soon arrived at Saint Remains City. The city had already been rebuilt, but was rather chaotic due to the all-heaven's impending doom. As such, they only stayed for a short while on the city walls before leaving, heading towards the Saint Remains Domain.
This was where Zhou Yuan had met patriarch Cang Xuan and begun a new chapter of his story.
This Saint Remains Domain had become a famous cultivation location. After all, the mere rumor of it being the place where the Cangxuan Heaven master once obtained a great blessing would already make many heaven prides blindly rush over like ducks.
Yaoyao headed directly to the deepest area of the Saint Remains Domain, where the fragment of patriarch Cang Xuan had dissipated. However, nothing remained after so many years, and even someone as powerful as the current Yaoyao could not bring back what was already gone.
As such, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan stayed only two days in the mountain before ultimately leaving again.
After departing from the Saint Remains Domain, they proceeded towards the Shengzhou Continent. However, the continent that was once the heart of Cangxuan Heaven had already been smashed to pieces and separated into various locations.
Yaoyao did not mind the trouble. They continued their journey without missing even a single location they had been to years ago.
Time slowly flowed. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
Over these three months, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan made sure to stop by every place they had once visited before.
However, Zhou Yuan remained akin to an inanimate puppet, showing no reaction to everything.
After three months of visiting the various corners of Cangxuan Heaven, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan finally arrived at the Cangxuan Sect's entrance.